History
Scholars believe the first people to live in Peru were natives who came from North america about 12,000 years ago. More recently, Peru was the center of the Inca empire in pre-Columbian times and also the seat of the Spanish royal court during the Colonial Era. We have stone cities and colonial mansions, gold museums and mysterious markings, religious temples and colorful festivals.

Location
In the central and western part of South America facing the Pacific Ocean on the west.

Geography
Our country is divided by the Andes Mountains with the Pacific Ocean to the west and Amazon Basin to the east. Peru has a wide variety of climates. There are snow-capped peaks and fetile valleys, tropical rain forests and sun-stained deserts, clear mountain lakes and endless beaches. Size: 1,285,216 sq. kms. (498,222 sq. miles)

Climate
Coast:
Winter (May-October)
Average: 14ºC / 57º F
Sumer (November-April)
Average: 27ºC / 81ºF

Highlands:
Temperature range from 18ºC / 64ºF during the day to 3ºC / 37ºF at night.
The rainy season lasts from December to March

Jungle:
Hot and humid, with sporadic rains all year round.

People
Our people are as varied as our geographical regions but with a common denominator. Peruvians are friendly and welcome the visitor to their monuments, folkloric shows, Indian villages, floating islands and urban centers.
Population: 24.5 million, 65 % in urban areas, 30% rural, 5% in remote areas. In Lima 8 milions.
Ethnic composition: 50% Indian, 35% mestizo, 15% Caucasian, oriental and negroid

Language and religion
Spanish with 80% literacy rate. Quechua is also an official language. Aymara is spoken by people around lake Titicaca and dozens of languages are spoken by the native inhabitants of the Amazon basin.

The official Peruvian religion is Roman Catholic, but there is complete freedom of worship with synagogues and numerous churches of various denominations.

Food and drink
We have succulent shellfish, exotic fruits, smoked Andean trout, hot pepper sauces, pisco sour cocktails and herbal teas.

Currency
The Sol
US dollars are accepted in Peru’s larger cities. US dollar and Euros exchange can be done at hotels, banks and money houses. Travel checks may be cashed in main hotels and banks.

Electric current
220 volts

Temperature
Centigrades

Time
GMT 5 hours (no change during the summer)

Weight and measures
Metric system

Political system
Freely elected parliamentary republic

Entertainment, Gambling, Eating
Some Lima hotels have casinos, while hotels in Cusco often feature folklore shows. Restaurants of Lima districts of Miraflores and San Isidro offer a variety of cuisines ranging from Peruvian “criolla” , Italian, chinesse to international. Bars and night clubs with live music, criollo, black and Andean music are specially popular.

Special interest subjects
include archaeology, birdwatching, textiles, folk medicine, Ecology, trekking and others.